Almost one in five puppies bought over the internet dies within six months of
its purchase, research has found.

The Kennel Club, which carried out the survey, said almost a third of puppies were now bought online and that it was concerned the trade was becoming dominated by “unscrupulous” puppy farmers.

The organisation and other animal welfare groups say conditions on such “farms”, where puppies are bred in large numbers for profit, are often very poor, with animals subjected to overcrowding and a poor diet, meaning diseases are rife.

As a result, a large proportion of puppies are dying from health complications within months of being bought or require long-term veterinary treatment.

The Kennel Club survey involved 2,026 dogs owners. They were asked about their experience of buying a puppy - including where they purchased it from - as well as about the animal’s subsequent health and any treatments required.

The report found that 12 per cent of owners who bought from sellers they had found advertised on the internet, on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, reported their dog did not have good health and required long-term veterinary treatment.

A further 17 per cent who bought online reported their dog had died within six months.

As well as health problems, The Kennel Club said puppies bought from farms also often displayed behavioural problems, including aggression and a fear of other dogs.

It said despite the apparent dangers, the numbers of dogs being bought by people over the internet had increased, from one in five to one in three over the last year.

It warned that Facebook and Twitter were particularly popular sites for “puppy farmers”, as they offered an easy and free way to advertise their dogs.

Experts say that dogs should be bought from registered breeders or from rescue centres, where they have been assessed by vets.

They recommend that, where possible, the puppy should be viewed with its mother at its home, to check its conditions and how the animals interact. Owners are also urged to check relevant health certificates for their new pet’s parents.

The Kennel Club has produced an online video, giving advice on what to do when buying one, as part of its Puppy Awareness Week, which starts next week.

Marc Abraham, a vet and founder of Pup Aid, a celebrity dog show taking place in London next Monday to raise awareness of puppy farming, said: “Sadly, if the 'buy it now’ culture persists then this horrific situation will only get worse.

“There is nothing wrong with sourcing a puppy online but people need to make themselves aware of what they should then expect from the breeder and they should never buy directly from third parties such as the internet, pet shops, or from puppy dealers, where you cannot possibly know how or where the puppy was raised.”